Wintering

 

Tuesday into Wednesday we are expecting snow. We are having a real winter here in Pennsylvania, though I have enjoyed the last few winters which were milder and had very little snow. I prefer that. 

However, I have decide to embrace wintering.

For me this means -

Making tea or hot chocolate and settling in with a good book.

Starting a nice diffuser blend to help my house smell good.

Cooking hot and nutritious meals, to keep us warm from the inside out!

Making my home cozy. We are all still missing the garlands and lights of Christmas, and I am thinking of ways to bring a bit of that special feeling back.

I may knit a bit more this winter.

I've been enjoying some British TV Mysteries.

Well, I am going to go make my bed and eat some breakfast. I think today I may have sliced peaches and cottage cheese!

I still have my cold and I may take a nap later. I hate the thought of it, but I do need more rest than I am getting at night. 

I hope you are all well, and enjoying your winter where ever you are!

I'm beginning to think about my garden, too! It won't be long now!

Winter Has Begun

 We had a few weeks with days of very mild temperatures and it was weird. The last Sunday of 2024 our high was 60 degrees! But this first week of the new year has brought more seasonal weather and we've had snow a few times including today.

We've gotten about an inch and a half so far. It's pretty and cold. We are in the zone for up to 5 inches, but it will likely be less. Sarah and Tim both had work cancelled for today. I love to sit and watch it snow. 

We were supposed to be getting our new windows and siding starting today. Hopefully, they'll be able to start tomorrow. 

Also the election should be certified in DC this afternoon! Very exciting! Now to get to noon on January 20th!

So how has your winter been so far? It's only been a few weeks since the solstice but meteorologists count winter December, January, and February. By that reckoning we are in the middle of winter. Our Christmas tree is still up and I think I may take it down tomorrow, as today is Epiphany.

I will leave my garlands and lights up until the end of January. It's cheering and delightful to have them on during this dark month.

What about you? Have you taken your Christmas decor down?

 

First Day Of Winter

 

Happy winter! Our temperatures have really been feeling like winter. This morning it is 25 degrees outside. We are cozy inside with our wood stove burning downstairs (helps heat the house). We are listening to Sarah's Christmas playlist. Tim made us all scrambled eggs for breakfast. We like to add fried flour tortilla in the eggs, and Tim adds onion and cheese. It's really good.

In a bit Sarah and Tim are headed out to take a family friend to BWI. He is flying out to California to have Christmas with his son and daughter in law.

I'm going to finish tidying up the living area and kitchen. I've made Christmas treats for neighbors, and I need to declutter the usual spaces.

I'm waiting on some packages to arrive. I believe we are all set for Christmas. We don't overbuy. Anything we use a credit card for is something that can be paid off at the end of the month. This brings peace and not stress.

Last night I baked chicken tenderloins in some zesty Italian dressing and it was delicious. It can be done with thighs, too. It flavors the meat very well. I made a boxed chicken flavored rice side dish, and a green salad. Very easy and satisfying. 

My heart is focused on the joy of the season which for me comes from knowing what God did for us in sending his son. He is not a baby in a manger anymore, nor is he still on the cross, he is alive. What a joy to celebrate him and God's plan of redeeming mankind.

He's the light of the world. 

Matthew 4:16 says, "the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” This is a quote from Isaiah 9:2.

The world has been dwelling in darkness for a long time now, and yet the light is shining. Can you see it?

Snowy Pattern And Some Thoughts

 We are in quite the snowy pattern.  Our normal winters are not this snowy, and while we haven't had huge accumulations, getting anywhere from 2-6ish inches every week is a lot for our area.

Tim was away at a training seminar all day yesterday, but this guy took care of the driveway.

Remember how I said, just a few days ago that spring was on the way?  It really is.  Next week we're going to have temps in the 40's and on Wednesday its going to be nearly 50 degrees! That's how I know for sure that the season is turning. We'll have more snow still, at least that's what my weather app says, and some cold days, too. However winters' days are waning.  I'm ready, are you?

On another note - have you heard about Pastor James Coates of Alberta Canada?  He's been arrested for holding church services.  There is an article {here}that tells about the church and their decision to meet, and {here}is an article about his arrest.  Please pray.

We have to decide just how much our governments can demand of us.  If we take precautions and quarantine the vulnerable, the majority of people should be allowed to go about their normal daily lives.

If the Super Bowl can have people attend, and protests can have thousands, why can't churches meet?  The church involved in this had no cov*d deaths of their congregation, but they have had a member die because they couldn't get their cancer treatments due to cov*d regulations.

People everywhere should be concerned. Today it is covid, tomorrow what will it be? Many countries have been very totalitarian with their lockdowns.  At one point in Australia you were not allowed to go out to exercise or even to walk your dog. In Germany, they can forcibly remove you from your own home if you have cov*d.  

It's all madness, and where does it end?  

Beauty In The Winter Sky

 

There is beauty all around us if we have eyes to see it.  Last night the setting sun gave us a lot of beauty.  The colors were a bit deeper than my phone could capture it, but still the beauty is there.

I want to always have eyes to see the beauty of what God is doing in the world. Redemption and restoration can be messy, but they are also beautiful.

Late last night the sky cleared completely and the stars shone bright in the midnight sky. Freezing cold air, but stars by the millions. Beauty.

What beauty are you seeing in your daily life?

Cozy Winter Bedroom

 There is nothing I like better in the winter than to climb into a warm and cozy bed at night!  The key for me is in the layering for warmth, but also of texture and interest.

The first three photos are from my own bedroom in the past few years, and then ideas from Pinterest.

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In each of the photos you can see layers of bedding, differing patterns, lots of pillows, quilts, comforters.  All of them, regardless of style, say cozy to me.

What is says cozy to you?  

ps - if you are a regular commenter here and would like to talk about the electi*n, leave me a comment.  In the comment leave me your email address so that I can respond to you. I have some thoughts but will not be putting them on the blog at this time. Thanks!  If I don't recognize you as a regular commenter, then I will not respond to you.

There's A Big Storm Headed Our Way

 

                                                           

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This will be the biggest storm we've had in several years.  Tim is likely going to have to reschedule a few things, but I'm all set for food etc, and we are always well prepared for a power outage if that happens.

We are praying for dear friends of ours who are planning to fly out of Dulles tomorrow headed to England to have Christmas with their son and his family.  It looks like DC isn't going to be as impacted as the Northeast, so hopefully they won't be delayed or at least not too long!  They'll have to quarantine at their sons home for two weeks, or they might be able to get c*vid tests and if negative they will be able to go out from the house much sooner.  I'm excited for them!

I'm working on plans for Tim's birthday, which is Christmas Eve.  The thing we usually do, is not possible this year, so I'm working on ideas that will work in our current restrictions.

If you're in the path of the storm, know that I'm praying for you!

Wiinter Wonderland

A big storm moved through yesterday into the overnight.  This morning the trees are covered with snow and its so beautiful.  Looking out the kitchen window its hard to see it with the sun trying to break through the clouds.

 So I went to the front door facing NW and had blue sky and this beauty

 The sun had broken through the clouds but I couldn't get a shot of how pretty the trees were in the sunshine.

School's are on a two hour delay here, and it looks like our roads are clear.  This week temperatures are going to be frigid, with overnights dipping into single digits again.  Hopefully, its winters' last hurrah.  Seriously ready for spring.  

Yesterday, our church held a "Guess Who's Coming For Dinner" event.  People signed up to host or be guests, and were paired up without knowing who was who!  We ended up guests of a couple who we knew casually from a former church!  It was so much fun, to spend the afternoon with them and get to know them better!  I can't wait until we do it again!

Winter Is Hanging On, But Spring Is On The Way

After I shared all those delightful outdoor living spaces yesterday, it started to snow.  It was light, so Lindsay and I headed out for errands pertaining to the baby shower we are hosting on Sunday.  We went into Hobby Lobby and 40 minutes later when we were checking out it was nearly a white out and several inches had fallen since we went in!  Yikes!  This is my year for crazy snow driving.

We survived, but we know we only were able to get back to her house because God sent a snow plow to go before us on the road with the biggest hill.  Seriously. 

When I left Lindsay's house a few hours later, the snow had stopped, the plows had cleared and the way home was only wet road.  Mostly.


This morning we are looking at this beauty.

and its going to be nearly 53 degrees.  Twenty degrees higher than yesterday.  That's how we know spring is coming!

I spent the late afternoon making paper flowers for the shower and I'm so in love with them!  Here's a photo to show you scale!

They are so fun!  I'll be sure to show you all of our decor and photos from the shower.  Its going to be sweet.  

Real Life at Creekside Cottage

After two days of this with mixed precipitation

We woke to beautiful sunshine streaming through the windows!

 This view makes me happy every morning.  You can see my red electric kettle on the left along with the Keurig and my Pioneer Woman teapot.  But you can also see that there are things on the table...

Evidence of a teen boy....

And a man who has his own business.  On the counter is paperwork, too.  We're preparing for taxes.

In the midst of it all is some 'pretty'....

I'm enjoying this $5 basket from Target's Dollar Spot to hold some gardening books and faux greens.

 And right below the shelf with the basket is the reality of winter...

Our dear friends are coming tomorrow for a visit, and so shoes and boots will be tidied, paperwork dealt with, vacuuming will be done.  We can't wait to spend time with them.

I always like to share the real with the pretty, because its easy to think that none of us ever have messes.  We all do.  

Now my grandgirlies have arrived for the day, and I must go.  Happy Wednesday!

The Roads Conditions Can Deteriorate Quickly - A Lesson Learned

The sky was blue and the roads were clear yesterday morning, so Tim (whose inspections had been rescheduled) suggested breakfast.  I readily agreed and got ready.  When we arrived at our favorite breakfast spot we saw they were closed.  That was kind of surprising, the artic air hadn't arrived yet, the wind was mild, and the roads were good.

We just came home and ate, but I was happy knowing the roads were good.  My friend Jen and I had plans in the early afternoon to go to tea, and we were both happy that the roads were good, and having learned my lesson with breakfast, I called the tea shop to make sure they were open.  They were!

The drive to Jen's takes 30 minutes and the further we went the more settled I was that the roads were all clear.  Until I got to her road.  It looked like it had not been plowed by I went slowly and it was fine.  Jen and I set off and my traction control kicked in going uphill but once we were on the other road it was all clear.

We enjoyed a leisurely teatime together and were the only ones who ventured out.  We knew that later in the day the temps were going to drop and the wind was going to be strong.  We watched a brief snow squall, then the sun come out.  No snow on the roads, its all good.

Until we are driving back to her house.  The road conditions had deteriorated.  The wind was blowing, there was drifting on the roads, and in those sections it was almost like a white out from the blowing snow.

We made our way to her side roads and there things really went downhill.  We were behind a plow who was working on those drifted roads, but where they were completely covered a few hours before, they were now completely covered.

I was very concerned about her road, and when we were on the road that meets her road, a passing car spun out and I still don't know how it missed hitting us!  I told Jen to call Mike (her husband) and have him meet us on that road.  He brought Kyle, who'd been playing with their son Daniel, and Jen and Kyle traded places.  Mike said as they got to the top of their road it was a near white out from the blowing snow!  Jen and I knew that from our experience on the main road! 

Kyle and I made it home safely, and I had known that once we got off that drifted main road, the other road would be fine because their aren't really many open field spaces.  The only challenge with the wind would be the bridge over the Susquehanna River.  That was, let just say, crazy!  We weren't in any danger, but it was a bit freaky, to be driving and having those gusts hit the van!

I was happy to get home, and into a warm, cozy house.  Today, we are all home again, the frigid temperatures and negative wind chill have led to co-op being cancelled and we are all just fine with that!

Our weather, while dangerously cold, is nothing like what the mid-west is experiencing!  Crazy cold there. 

I hope you are warm and safe at home.  We need to be mindful of our neighbors and friends, too.  Check on them, and have a house party if necessary!

Beautiful Winter Morning

We haven't had much snow this winter, but we have had cold weather!  Yesterday we got a pretty snow, and today we have sunshine (for now, some snow due later).  We also are going to have plunging temperatures later today, and it will be very cold tomorrow!

Here are a few photos for you!

So many of us are going to be in very cold temperatures, so be careful and stay warm!

Snow Day

We're having a heavy wet snow, that started last night, and is supposed to pick up in intensity later today.

Late winter has been very mild, but March has come in like a lion!  If the old addage holds true, then it should be a very pleasant ending to the month!  You never know what you'll get with March!

The roads are clear at this point which is nice, since Tim has one inspection today. 

February teased us with spring like temps, and we know they are on there way, so this brief snow will not dampen our spirits!  We'll enjoy its beauty and winter's last hurrah!

Some Warm Beauty, On A Cold Winter Day

                                                       Photo Credit - Lindsay Musser

Lindsay and Joseph have traveled to Hawaii with my dad.  My dad went to visit his brother and sister, who both live in Maui. (senior housing there is apparently the way to go)  They have a housesitter caring for Lindsay's fish and plants, oh and looking out for the house.  

She took this photo the first full day there. They've gone to the top of a volcano in the wee morning hours to watch the sunrise, they are going to go whale watching, too.  I did that when I grew up in California, and its pretty amazing.  One trip there were dolphins swimming alongside our boat.  I did give her one important tip.  Take Dramamine!

Our weather has turned very cold again, so going out today for PT for our friend, lunch with my mom, and getting groceries, is going to require my boots and layers. Oh, and gloves.  Yes, indeed.

Have you ever travelled to Hawaii?  Its never been high on my list of places to visit - I'd rather go to England, Scotland, France or Italy.  But I could endure a winter trip to the Caribbean or Hawaii, just sayin'.

Winter Sky

We had a mild year, weather wise, last year.  This winter is cold, and snowy, but we're not buried in it like a few years ago.  I'm thankful.  We're going to have a warm up this coming week, and we'll all enjoy that, but there could be flooding along the major rivers, due to snow and ice melt.  I'm praying that it will not flood.

I'm headed out today to take our friend to physical therapy, then home, then out again for groceries and errands.  Kyle went to work with Tim today, he needed an extra pair of hands.  He took some reading along too, and they'll get lunch out and time together.  He's growing fast - he'll be 13 this summer.  

Time moves on, more swiftly as we get older.  We're so thankful to have these delightful young adults and near teen in our home.  They keep us young, and tired!  (grin)

I hope you have a lovely day. 

What Winter Looks Like Outside The Cottage

We had a bit of snow last night.  Just enough to dust everything and keep the roads clear.  It is been very cold here.  It is still cold but it is going to be 35 today and that's a warm up!  However, the forecast is for more snow today.  I don't mind but I have people who must go out to work.  We pray and trust them to the Lord.

This tablecloth was so pretty during the Christmas holiday.  When I got home from Florida, I saw that it had become torn and wanted to throw it away.  There's a problem though.  Its frozen to the table and when I tried to pull it off it was stuck but tearing even more.  So its going to remain until I can take it off in one piece.  I may even try later today.

Let's not focus on the torn tablecloth though, okay?  Let's look at how lovely the snow is on those fir branches.  Yes, much nicer!

Onto prettier things now.  The woods along the edge of our property are so beautiful in the autumn but their barrenness in the winter is lovely, too.

Here is a view from the front steps of the cottage.

And a closer view to look at my hydrangea, and the spirea covered in snow.

The boxwood needs a big trim.  In fact, this whole front cottage style garden needs some work.  I just need to be bold and do what needs to be done in this space.

 I try to embrace the seasons as they come.  I don't want to always be looking to the next one while in the middle of the one I'm in.  That's true for life, too.  I try to embrace each phase of life I'm in.  Too many times, we are so busy looking backwards - longing for our kids childhoods,  or looking forwards - I can't wait until my kids are grown, that we miss what God has for us today.  

Winter will pass, spring will come as it does every year, to be followed by summer and then autumn.  Then we'll find ourselves saying "I can't wait for Christmas!"

Have a great day everyone!